Most Expensive Sports Jerseys Ever Sold

Collectors of sports memorabilia are in a lucrative business, as they bid for jerseys worn by iconic players from sports history. Auctions for autographed and game-worn sports jerseys are an expensive industry. Memorabilia from famous athletes sell for millions every time an item hits the market.

If you are wondering what the most expensive signed jersey ever sold is, we break down the details. We reveal the most expensive jersey across many sports and leagues, including basketball, football, baseball, hockey, and soccer.

Most Expensive NBA Jerseys Sold

Featuring legendary players, here are the most expensive jerseys sold by players in the National Basketball Association.

Michael Jordan: Game 1 of the 1998 NBA Finals

Michael Jordan’s 1998 jersey from Game 1 of the NBA Finals recently sold for $10.1 million. This amount sets the record for the most expensive sports jersey ever sold.

Michael Jordan is one of the most famous basketball athletes and is assumed to be the greatest of all time by many sports fans. From 1984-1993, Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls, and the team won six championships in eight years.

Game 1 of the 1998 Finals is known as “The Last Dance” because it capped off a decade of dominance by the Bulls and Jordan. Although the Bulls lost the game, they would win the championship series.

This auctioned jersey represents six championship seasons for the Bulls, where Jordan led the team and dominated play. The most expensive game-worn jersey ever sold, the shirt features Jordan’s number 23.

Kobe Bryant: Los Angeles Lakers Rookie Season

The jersey worn by NBA player Kobe Bryant during his rookie season sold for $3.69 million in 2021. Bryant wore the jersey during multiple games during the 1996-1997 season.

Many consider Bryant to be one of the best basketball players of all time, spending 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. He won five NBA championships during his career.

Tragically, he died in 2020 in a helicopter crash at 41, along with his young daughter. The jersey’s auction was conducted posthumously, which added to the expensive price tag. Bryant autographed the jersey on the eight, the number he wore throughout his career.

Bill Russell: 1969 NBA Finals

Bill Russell is known for being a star player for the Boston Celtics. His family auctioned his 1969 NBA Finals jersey to collectors for $1.1 million in December 2021.

Bill Russell is an NBA legend, having played for the Celtics from 1956 to 1969. Throughout his career, he led the Celtics to a record 11 championship rings, winning the Most Valuable Player award five times.

Russell wore the jersey during Game 7 of the NBA Finals, his last game as a player. Russell autographed the shirt, making it even more valuable.

Most Expensive NFL Jerseys Sold

We break down the most expensive game-worn jersey sold below from the National Football League.

Tom Brady: 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In 2022, Tom Brady’s game-worn jersey from an NFL game in the 2020 season was auctioned for $480,000. Brady signed the jersey and it is the most expensive game-worn jersey ever auctioned by a football player.

Tom Brady is considered by many to be the greatest football player of all time. In a career of over 20 years, he has won seven Super Bowl championships with the New England Patriots and Buccaneers. Brady has also won the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award five times, which is a league record.

Brady signed and personalized the jersey, which makes it stand out to collectors. He also wrote game states and the word “G.O.A.T,” on his number, 12, making it one of the most expensive signed jerseys ever sold.

Most Expensive MLB Jerseys Sold

Baseball is one of America’s oldest sports, so we reveal the most expensive Major League Baseball jersey auctioned off below.

Babe Ruth: 1928-1930 New York Yankees

In 2019, Babe Ruth’s jersey from the 1928-1930 seasons with the New York Yankees fetched a sum of $5.64 million.

For many, Babe Ruth is synonymous with the game of baseball. Throughout his tenure with the New York Yankees, he set records for home runs, hitting a total of 714 in his career. This jersey represents baseball history and is one of the few items auctioned from Ruth’s playing days.

The vintage jersey is gray with the “Yankees” stitched across the front. Inside the jersey, the name “Ruth” is engraved, with the player wearing the shirt for two seasons.

Most Expensive NHL Jerseys Sold

Sports memorabilia fans should not forget players from the National Hockey League, with jerseys from iconic players auctioned off.

Wayne Gretzky: 1988 Stanley Cup Finals

The jersey Wayne Gretzky wore for his final game as an Edmonton Oiler sold in 2022 for $1.45 million. Gretzky’s jersey was worn during the Stanley Cup Finals, in which the Oilers defeated the Boston Bruins.

Wayne Gretzky is known to be one of the best hockey players of all time. Known for his ability to score goals, Gretzky spent 20 years in the NHL. He began his playing tenure with the Edmonton Oilers, where he won four Stanley Cup championships in ten years.

The jersey worn during the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals is notable because Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings hours after the tournament finished. The jersey features the Oilers logo with orange and blue stripes, and Gretzky’s famous number, 99.

Most Expensive Soccer Jerseys Sold

Soccer is a beloved sport around the world, so here are expensive game-worn jerseys that all sports collectors should know about.

Diego Maradona: 1986 World Cup Quarterfinals

Diego Maradona’s 1986 World Cup jersey, in which he scored two iconic goals for Argentina, recently sold for $9.28 million. The shirt sets the record for the most expensive game-worn jersey ever sold.

Maradona is seen as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, he was a forward known for his goal and play-making abilities. In the 1986 quarterfinals, he scored two famous goals to beat England and advance Argentina into the World Cup finals, where they ultimately took home the trophy.

The first goal is known as the “Hand of God,” because Maradona illegally touched the ball with his hand to score, but the referees missed the call. The second goal is called the “Goal of the Century,” because he dribbled from midfield and beat several England defenders to score.

Maradona’s goals in the World Cup are seen by some as the greatest goals of all time. This shows the jersey’s price tag, with the shirt featuring the iconic blue and white stripes of Argentina.

Contact Locker Room Direct Today About Your Favorite Jersey

This is an exciting time for sports collecting with jerseys worn by star NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and soccer players routinely fetching over a million dollars. Many of the players are considered to be the greatest of all time in their respective leagues, and their jerseys come from iconic games or seasons in the athlete’s history.

The most expensive jerseys sold were worn by iconic players of various sports, and many jerseys were game-worn or autographed by the athletes. If you are interested in learning more about the most expensive jerseys ever sold, contact us today.